Posted by Mike Field on August 10, 2007 at 12:17:00 from 203.129.51.222 user mikefield.
In Reply to: Re: Beckfoot-number of stairwells posted by Alan HAkim on August 10, 2007 at 10:48:09:
Yes, this sounds much as I expected Alan. That "servants' stair" would have been quite narrow and plain, unlike the house's main staircase which would have been much broader and well-decorated with carved timber balustrades, newels, and so on. Moreover, the servant's stair (together with the rest of the servant's wing) was hidden from the main house and its occupants by a door (on both or all floors;) which in turn was often either hidden by a curtain or covered in baize to reduce sound transfer from the staff "downstairs" to the owner and his family.